Coaches will tell you there is competition at every position, even when there isn’t.
You have to keep that in mind when interpreting what Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said about his quarterbacks on Wednesday. But you also have to know that Tomlin spent most of the offseason saying Russell Wilson was his starter, without really entertaining the idea that Justin Fields could win the job. His statement that there was competition at quarterback seemed notable.
A calf injury to Wilson early in training camp has given Fields some additional opportunities and perhaps a chance to steal the starting job. Wilson will not play in the preseason opener on Friday against the Houston Texans, giving Fields a big chance to impress. Tomlin was asked if there is competition for the QB1 spot and gave a pretty emphatic answer.
“It’s a real competition,” Tomlin told Pittsburgh media.
Is that coaching speak? We’ll find out. But Fields can certainly press the issue. Tomlin said he considers what happens in preseason games more than in practices, which seemed like an invitation for Fields to change the narrative on the quarterback talk in Pittsburgh with a good game Friday.
#Steelworkers HC Mike Tomlin confirmed that there is, in fact, a QB competition between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.
Wilson, who is dealing with a calf injury, remains QB1.
Fields will start Friday against the Texans, while Wilson will not play.photo.twitter.com/89upXew1x7
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 7, 2024
For most of the offseason, the Steelers didn’t deny that there could be competition, but it usually included praise for Wilson and his resume. There didn’t seem to be much real competition at the position. The Steelers listed Wilson as their QB1 on the depth chart this week, which wasn’t a surprise. However, it appears the door is opening at least a little for Fields.
The Steelers signed Wilson to a minimum contract after the Denver Broncos released him. Then, they acquired Fields for the cheap price of a sixth-round pick from the Chicago Bears. Fields is much younger and offers more of a long-term answer, though the team has said they are only interested in winning now. Perhaps Fields is both the short-term and long-term answer by the end of August.
At the very least, there’s a lot more intrigue for the Steelers’ quarterbacks in the preseason. Fields has a chance to make it really interesting with some highlights on Friday night.